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I desperately want to write more but can never manage to make it a priority. Once the kiddos are down and I fall onto the couch I always think – get your ass up. Write.

My husband is chasing my 2 year old around, who by the way has his Thomas rain boots on. Because, you know, it’s probably going to rain in our house at any moment. My daughter is doing her “booty shake” trying to get his attention. This booty shake has got.to.go. At four you really shouldn’t be aware of your booty, much less the attention it gets if you shake it. Wish me luck.

Next door my neighbors are packing up 5 years of living in a house, and we are all sad. It’s another one of those reminders of how quickly life can change. These were the kind of neighbors that you pictured their son taking our daughter to prom, but then secretly hoping they didn’t date because of how close in proximity we were. Not to mention the awkward conversation between Dad’s; one telling his son how to throw game, the other wanting to take his daughter to Montana and live on a 10,000 acre ranch. These were glass of wine, amazing dinners, backyard conversations until 2:00 a.m. kind of neighbors. These were trash out the front of our houses with kiddos cars, bouncy houses, get your grill, bring hot dogs, let’s do this kind of neighbors. Halloween kicked off every year with littles running around in their costumes, adults snacking on Larry’s famous meat breads, Holly making “roadies” for all the adults so we could survive the trick or treat adventure. Those kind of neighbors.

While I wish them well I selfishly I can’t help but HATE the idea that they are gone. Yeah maybe we would go a month or two without really seeing each other and hanging out, but the thought of them next door was always so comforting. Just knowing they were right there, right next door, a 5 second walk away was such a blessing.

But, as with anything in life, things change and change can be good. Not suggesting their moving is a good thing, but I am happy for their new adventures and what waits for them. Boston is an amazing city, and just like they do anywhere, they’ll make great friends and share what we all got to experience for these last few years. Whoever you lucky people are out there – get ready!

As I wind down the evening a little sad I just remind myself to never take things for granted. Time, friendships, opportunities, memories, LIFE. Live it, love it, and embrace it. Be thankful for time spent with good people, appreciate those that are “salt of the earth” and keep the spirit alive.

We will miss you Fleischman family, but we will see you again. I am certain.

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine. ~Thomas Jefferson

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To stay consistent with several of my last posts, as few and far between as they may be, I need to talk about a very important transition. Changes. A transition that I think subconsciously I was putting off simply to slow down time…

My littlest G is sleeping in his own bed, upstairs, in his own room.

My husband and I have never had our kids sleep in our actual bed, but next to it in a bassinet. It’s so much easier those first few months to just reach your arm out, find the paci, feel them breath, get up to feed them when you’re a foot away. Listening to a newborn baby breath in the still of the night warms my soul.

Two weeks old.

Blink.

Five months old now, ready to move more, stretch out, kick, be on.his.own.

So last week we did it. We took him upstairs to his room, laid him down in the crib, he was asleep in less than 5 minutes. My sweet little baby boy, all grown up already, I stayed there for a few minutes just soaking it all in, letting go, transitioning.

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Dom and I had a date Saturday night and THEN met friends for drinks. I had my first hangover since being knocked up a million weeks ago.

Milkscreen strips. If you don’t know what they are look them up, or watch Kourtney and Khloe. They allow for a mom’s night out occasionally if you are breastfeeding.

I took a bubble bath yesterday.

I bought Eat, Pray, Love today.

I also bought Bethenny Frankel’s two books – I’m going to unleash the Skinnygirl, as she says.

I watched Food, Inc. last night. If you haven’t watched this you must. As a result Ty and I spent over 2 hours at the Farmers Market today tying to buy all organic and natural. This shit is hard.

My 30th bday party is booked – houseboat on the lake with my best friends. The title of my Evite is “Go Shorty, it’s your birthday…” – because what 30 year old mother of two isn’t still listening to 50 cent. “We gonna party like it’s your birthday…”

We’re booked for NYC August 25th – going to see Dom’s family and spend a few nights in the city. I simply cannot wait as I consider NYC my home away from home. We are booked to stay right by the park so we’ll be spending a lot of our time with the kiddos there.

Brooklyn suprises me every day. New words, new sentences, new behaviors. I love her more than life and will never get tired of saying that.

Ty is getting SO big. This Wednesday he’ll be 6 weeks old (uh – what!) and he’s aleady grown over an inch and gained 1.5 lbs. He eats. And eats. Love his little face, tiny fingers, and tiny toes. We’ve seen a few smiles too, I’m hooked.

Life is good today.

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Last Thursday I went to see my doctor, weekly check up, with no expectations. I left knowing that I was 3 cm dilated and thrown into a whirlwind of ‘whooohooo – let the labor begin!’ It’s Monday…and still, no baby.

Over the weekend I was counting every ache and pain thinking surely the little man would grace us with his presence any minute. It’s Monday, no contractions, no baby…yet.

I do believe in divine intervention and in my case I believe someone was telling me I needed to take a few days to decompress. Looking back at the last few months I truly don’t know that I ever really was able to relax like I tried to do, primarily because work was just so nonstop. Throw the rest of life on top of that and I don’t know that I ever allowed myself to get fully into new mom mode. This week I’m off of work and able to do what I want to do – mani, pedi, a little shopping at Sephora, lunch with friends, hanging with Brooklyn. Laundry can be done at my earliest convenience, dinner can get started before 6:30, life can go at a pace that I have more control of. As much as I’m ready to get into that hospital and get this done I am enjoying these couple of days to get myself back to normal. But…don’t get me wrong, it’s in the back of my mind always that I’m one step close to being a mom of two. I can’t wait!!!!!!

Let the final countdown begin….!

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There are a lot of things that can stop me in my tracks and me feel every bit vulnerable and emotional. There are the typical things, a song, a moment in time, a sad story, a happy story, a Folgers commercial…okay so I’m one level of stable above that – but in general you could classify me as one of those people that get moved by things.

I can be very cynical, and real too. In fact, one of my favorite past times is getting together with my close friends and just having those call it like we see it kind of conversations. Many times this may involve some serious shit talking, but hey, what are friends for.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, I took my child, loaded up the mom car and picked up the grandparents to hit up the local Chuy’s parade – kids giving to kids. If you don’t know what Chuy’s is, look it up and figure out a way to get a hold of the jalapeno ranch. You can thank me later for changing your life. The concept is genius, it’s a toy drive where kids bring a gift to the parade and fill the beds of Chevrolet trucks to the brim, for other kids.

Brooklyn is too young to get this but we headed out with our Play-doh gift in hand anyway as I wanted her to just experience the scene and see the floats. I mean we’re talking Macy’s parade runner up floats here -look at the enthusiasm! 😉

So the motorcycles kick it off, we’re clapping, dancing, waving, and the crowd is collectively enjoying it. Kids everywhere, smiling, feeling every bit of that magic of the holidays. We were near the front of the parade and I noticed that one of the next floats in line was a group of men and women representing our troops. Suddenly it just seemed like the entire crowd shifted focus and it was no longer about the parade, the kids, the toys, but it was about stopping to honor our heroes. As they made their way down the street everyone stood up, waving, cheering, and clapping. I have no idea what came over me as this is the behavior we should see in one another but it’s like I felt this wave of gratitude hit everyone at once and it completely got me. It could have turned into a big ol’ sobfest, hot mess, but I held it together.

It was one of those had to be there moments, but I suppose that morning I woke up vulnerable to feel everything. It was just nice to see literally everyone on the same page for one small moment in time, appreciating, giving thanks, and feeling every bit of grateful for what these people have sacrificed. All political bullshit aside, it was about gratitude. Spend a minute today and be grateful for something.

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We did this for about an hour last night. Pick up a block, stack a block, stack another block, knock it down. Clap clap, yay Brooklyn!

At one point she was concentrating so intently on stacking that she started breathing harder. Adorable.

After a long day there is nothing more peaceful than this to come home to. I often tell myself, and you, how it’s important to keep things in perspective but we move at such a fast pace it’s so easy for our minds to clutter with life. After my cousin passed away I thought FOR SURE I’d have a handle on it, but only two weeks later I am wrapped up with work, with being healthy, having mental arguements about working out, planning schedules, cleaning house, updating my blog!, blah blah blah. None of which is bad, but time consuming.

Then as I’m laying on our living room rug last night playing with Brooklyn it suddenly dawns on me that I’m having a moment with her. She has never been able to stack these blocks on her own, but now she can. One of her little obstacles overcome. It was awesome for both me, and Dom, to just sit back, stop thinking, and watch her grow. A memory made, a very big success.

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Dom caught a 6:00 a.m. flight on sunday to NYC. He’s crazy like that, the 6:00 a.m. flights. He thinks that is when you have your best shot at making it to your destination on time. He’s right. Last year when I was prego with B and we flew there I whined about booking a later flight. So, because I was prego and ruled the house at the time we did, and we got to shop at the Houston airport for oh, about 8 hours. No argument on that one. Honey, you were RIGHT. (OMG I said it outloud!)

So it’s been the stinker and I since Sunday and it’s been awesome. I love spending 1:1 time with her, watching her grow, discover, and express herself. She is literally changing by the moment. I have learned this week that she loves to dance, sways back and forth and bounces to music. So f’ing cute! She also now can understand me when I ask her to go get another book from her toy bin. She waddles over there, peruses the options, makes a selection, and walks towards me holding the book in front of her, and she’s proud. I’m proud.

She also eats a lot, and is messy. Messy = more cleaning. She hasn’t slept great this week due to a cough so we’re tired. Oh, then the diapers, and bath time, getting ready for school, playtime, climbing on our treadmill, and getting into everything she shouldn’t be. It’s constant.

Do not misinterpret that in the sense that I don’t want to be doing it, it’s just so nice to have a teammate, and my husband is a great teammate. I am ready for him to be home so I can sit my ass down when its his turn. Not to mention I have concluded that while I like some alone time, I LOVE his presence, our conversation, and his head next to mine every night.

So, to all you single parents out there, you are ROCKSTARS and my new HEROES.

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Thank you friends for your suggestions on Monday. I have started with little things, picking my workouts back up, reading a book, and just re-focusing altogether.

I have been reminded though, this week, to be nothing but thankful. Here is why:

Monday night Dad called me and asked to help him send my mom flowers. His job requires him to work out of town for weeks at a time, and my mom is an empty nester getting by with her two dogs and beta fish. I talk to her a lot, and she holds up pretty well but I know she had a little breakdown Sunday night all alone. We got the flowers ordered and she had a great day. But I am reminded, I am not alone.

A blogworld friend at OceanDreams tagged me in a photo contest a couple of weeks back, but between traveling and getting back into the swing of things I forgot all about it. Here are the rules:

* Open my first photo folder

* Scroll down to the 10th photo

* Post that photo and story on my blog

* Tag five friends to do the same

Here is my photo:

This is from when we went to visit my youngest brother play football last fall at ACU. Brooklyn was just a tiny little pup and it was one of the first times my entire family was together since she had been born. The whole crew was there, even Uncle Rob, who is holding her in this picture. The weekend was an awesome memory and this again reminds me to appreciate my family and all their love and support. I was, and obviously still am, SO proud of my little one so sharing her with my brothers is AWESOME.

Lastly, I read the Spohr’s blog every day. Sometimes I tell myself not to because it often ends in me tearing up before my next work meeting, but I can’t help it. It has forever changed my life and serves as a CONSTANT reminder to just enjoy your days and be grateful. I often think about Heather when I sometimes am losing my patience with Brooklyn, am overtired, overwhelmed, whatever it is…I stop and I think of her and I change my path. I hate that because of her loss I am reminded.

Sticking with my theme, I am reminded now that I must tag 5 friends to carry on the photo stories…have fun!